A DISABLED woman was left shocked when she was told to get out of her wheelchair to get on a bus.

Jackie Clarke, who has osteoporosis and arthritis, described a trip to Wakefield as “the journey from hell”.

The 52-year-old was travelling from her home in Goole to surprise her husband at work for his birthday.

But she said she was left feeling “disgusted and humiliated” when her son had to carry her onto the Arriva bus.

Mrs Clarke said: “The driver looked at my chair and said ‘you can’t get on here with that’.

“But there was a space for wheelchairs with a sign, and he let a lady with a pushchair in there after already refusing me – I was disgusted and humiliated. I felt discriminated against because I am disabled.”

Last month the Express also reported the story of a Kirkthorpe mum who was refused entry on to an Arriva bus with her disabled son.

Nigel Featham, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, apologised to Mrs Clarke and said the bus she had used was not suitable for wheelchairs.

He said: “This year alone we are spending £12m on new buses and are well on the way to having a completely wheelchair accessible fleet.”

Mrs Clarke also had to wait 25 minutes on platform two at Westgate railway station to cross the track, as there is no footbridge with disabled access.

A spokesman for East Coast Trains said the planned £6.6m redevelopment on the station will include a new footbridge with disabled access.

A GIRL who has spent her life growing her hair down to her waist is having it cut off for charity.

Megan Lloyd, 12, is putting her 22-inch long blonde hair under the knife to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The Horbury School pupil has only ever had small trims on her hair and has spent her life growing it. But she is ready to take the plunge and have it cut above her shoulders.

Her mum, Diane Clarke, said: “I don’t want her to have it cut off, I love her hair. But she’s set on doing it and it’s for a good cause.

“I’ve lost my parents to cancer and so Megan’s lost her grandparents – Cancer Research was the big one for us.”

Megan and her mum are hoping to raise £1,000 for the charity, but said they just want to raise as much as possible.

Megan said: “It’s going to be weird at first, when I get out of bed I always have to move it out the way but I won’t have to do that anymore.

“When I put my hand through my hair I’ll only have to go half-way.

“But I’ll get used to it, I’m looking forward to having it cut off.”

Megan said she has been thinking about having the cut for around six months, and decided to go for it after a friend with equally long hair had hers cut.

The cut will take place on Saturday, March 31, at her uncle’s salon, Dale Clarke’s Hair Salon, on Cheapside in Wakefield city centre.

To sponsor contact mum Miss Clarke on 07984 522778.

AROUND 16 travellers have arrived at Dewsbury’s railway station car park today.

The five vans had been turned off a site in Leeds Road, Huddersfield, earlier in the day.

One of the travellers, a man named Jerry, said the group aimed to be in Dewsbury for ‘a day or so’ and was en route to Appleby horse fair in Cumbria.

He added that they were prepared to pay for being on the pay-to-park site. “We don’t want anything giving,” he said

SIX people are now being treated in hospital after an explosion at Fox’s Biscuits today.

Contractors were draining and cleaning three diesel tanks at the back of the Batley factory on Wednesday morning when a spark caused one to catch fire.

Eyewitnesses described how a burst of flames was seen coming from the site, followed by clouds of thick smoke.

Aneela Zaman, who lives opposite the yard, said she saw people running from the factory, screaming.

One man was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital with burns to his legs, and five other people were taken to Dewsbury and District Hospital as a precaution.

Keep checking this website for updates, and video footage of the aftermath of the explosion.

Check out this week’s Batley and Birstall News, out tomorrow, for the full story.

THREE people have been injured in an explosion at Fox’s Biscuits in Batley.

Emergency services were called to the Wellington Street factory this morning, after reports there had been an explosion involving a storage tanker in a yard.

Two of the three people injured were described as ‘walking wounded’ by a fire service spokesman.

The Health and Safety Executive has sent a team to the site to begin enquiries.

No-one from Fox’s Biscuits has been available to comment so far.

Keep checking back for updates and see tomorrow’s News for the full story.

- Did you see the incident? Call the newsroom on 01924 472121 or email batleyeditorial@ywng.co.uk.

A PARK is celebrating a blooming great success after becoming the first in the district to receive accreditation from Natural England.

The accreditation for Anglers Country Park recognises that it has all the facilities expected of a country park under guidelines introduced in 2009, distinguishing it from other parks in the area.

It also means Natural England regards the park as making a significant contribution to England’s greenspace.

Coun Maureen Cummings, cabinet member for environment and communities, said: “This is fantastic recognition for Anglers Country Park.

“Set in beautiful countryside surroundings, the park is a great place for walking, picnicking, wildlife and bird watching.

“Anglers Country Park is a local nature reserve which is carefully managed to conserve and improve its habitats for the benefit of wildlife and for everyone to enjoy.

“There is always something different to see as the wildlife changes with the seasons.”

Facilities Natural England looks at include play facilities, visitor centres, cafés and marked trails or mapped walks.

The visitor centre also received an accreditation and provides family focused activities.

THREE people have been arrested in connection with the “unexplained” death of a 21-year-old man.

Shane Kirkbright of Altofts died in hospital on Friday morning.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to Pinderfields Hospital at about 8.15am on Friday following the death of a 21-year-old man from the Normanton area.

“A post mortem has taken place and proved inconclusive.

“Enquiries are ongoing in to the circumstances of his death, which is unexplained.”

A 27-year-old woman and two men, aged 19 and 37, have been arrested and released on bail.

Police were unable to confirm what offence the three were arrested on suspicion of committing.

See this week’s Express for the full story.

DESIGNER trainers, t-shirts and underpants were stolen from a lorry.

Thieves took a large haul of Jack Jones and Vila clothes plus shoes from the truck which was parked on Beckbridge Road in Normanton.

The theft took place some time between 8.30pm on Thursday, February 2, and 6.45am the following morning.

Police have issued a warning to anyone who may be approached by people selling the branded goods to contact them.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101.

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FORGET rhubarb and custard because a new brew is the stalk of the town.

Meet Roo-Barb Beer. Take 12 kilos of Janet Oldroyd-Hulme’s prize veg from the heart of the rhubarb triangle in Carlton, put it in the hands of an award-winning brewer, boil it down in every available saucepan in the house, add some passion fruit hops, a bit of ginger and serve it up to ale aficionados at Wakefield Council’s Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb next weekend.

Nurse-turned-brewer Malcolm Bastow, 52, decided to produce the zany beer after seeing the ‘High Priestess of Rhubarb’ on a TV food programme.

Mr Bastow, who runs a brewery from his back garden in Leeds Road, Outwood, said: “I saw Janet on the telly when comedian Ade Edmondson was doing his round Britain food tour.”

The mental health nurse got his inspiration for the key ingredient for his 5% pale ale after cutting through the rhubarb triangle of Wakefield, Rothwell and Morley on his way to work in Leeds.

The dad-of four said: “The beer contains rhubarb, ginger and Galaxy hops from Australia.

The kitchen is going to be full of pans as I boil down possibly 12 kilos of rhubarb.

“I think rhubarb will be a good ingredient for beer. If I get positive feedback and get cries for more rhubarb in it then I will brew it again.

“My wife, Beverley, is my official taster, but she is a big fan of dark beers. If she drinks some pale, hoppy beer and she pulls a face then I’ll know it’s fine.

“My experience of having rhubarb is the combinations you get with it, like rhubarb and custard. Then you have rhubarb crumble and it has a bit of cinnamon on top, and with the custard you have the vanilla.

“And I think with this beer, it isn’t just going to be a rhubarb beer. It’s going to be a combination. I never thought of rhubarb and ginger until the recipe but I think it will work, I hope! It’s a learning experience.”

Roo-Barb Beer will be available at the Cricketers Arms’ beer tent at the three-day rhubarb festival, which starts on Friday, February 24.

See next week’s Express for more on the festival.

PRIVACY campaigners have criticised Wakefield Council for spending more than £1m a year on CCTV cameras.

A report by campaign group Big Brother Watch claims Wakefield spent £4.1m on 177 cameras between April 2007 and March last year.

Only 16 local authorities spent more during the same four-year spell.

Group director Nick Pickles said the money would have been better spent on police officers.

He said: “In too many cities across the country every corner has a camera but only a few ever see a police officer.

“Despite millions of cameras, Britain’s crime rate is not significantly lower than comparable countries that do not have such a vast surveillance state.”

Glynn Humphries, the council’s service director for cleaner and greener, said the figure was not a true representation of ongoing costs.

He said: “The figure includes additional one-off costs, when the CCTV was moved and upgraded. It is now located in a council-owned building to reduce costs further.

“CCTV provides reassurance to the public and can be used by the police in investigations, providing a significant saving. The presence of the cameras can also deter shoplifting, helping local businesses.”

Birmingham was reported to have spent the most on cameras, racking up a bill of £14.2m.

Big Brother Watch was set up in 2009 to challenge policies which threaten privacy.

FIREFIGHTERS freed a man and a woman from a van after a smash last night. (Monday)

The incident happened on Owl Lane, Gawthorpe, just before 5.30pm.

Fire crews from Ossett and Dewsbury attended along with police.

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SECURITY has been tightened at the town and county halls after thieves made off with electrical gear twice in a matter of days.

A laptop and projector were stolen from Wakefield Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

The theft came just days after other equipment was stolen last Friday.

Staff have now been asked to wear council badges at all times, and visitors must also sign in and pick up badges at reception.

Council leader Coun Peter Box said: “We are asking staff to be vigilant. Our buildings are open to the public and we do welcome visitors but we are making sure everyone signs in and wears a visible badge in the interests of security and to deter any further theft.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency police number 101.

COWS had to be moved to safety after a fire broke out in a barn.

Firefighters were called to Chidswell Farm, on Chidswell Lane, Chidswell, at 12.10am this morning (Tuesday).

A large part of the barn, which was filled with straw, was destroyed by the blaze.

Cattle from a barn next door to the fire were quickly moved and were unharmed.

A crew from Ossett and two from Dewsbury attended.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.